Nationwide events to help American businesses identify global export opportunities

WASHINGTON — Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Ken Hyatt today announced DISCOVER GLOBAL MARKETS, an unprecedented series of International Trade Administration (ITA) business forums to help American companies export more. This year-long series of nationwide export events – launched in San Antonio today – supports the U.S. Commerce Department’s trade and investment efforts as part of its “Open for Business Agenda.” The inaugural forum also coincides with World Trade Month, which will feature administration-wide efforts to promote U.S. trade and help implement President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI).

“This annual series of high-profile events marshals the full depth and breadth of the International Trade Administration’s worldwide market intelligence and trade expertise as well as the resources of key public and private sector partners,” said Hyatt.

Each forum will offer ITA’s global expertise and highlight opportunities for U.S. businesses to target different regional markets and identify key industry sectors with high export potential. Every event will feature presentations from “boots-on-the-ground” trade diplomats from U.S. embassies and consulates abroad sharing the latest market intelligence, as well as prescheduled one-on-one business counseling sessions and numerous networking opportunities.

“With a record $2.3 trillion in exports last year, the United States is now selling more goods and services to the world than at any time in our history,” Hyatt added. “Our goal is to make trade a bigger part of our economy and business community’s DNA. The DISCOVER series aims to achieve that by giving businesses all the necessary tools to boost their exports, which support millions of good, high-wage jobs across the country.”

The DISCOVER event in San Antonio is focusing on exports to Africa, the Middle East, and India. U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker is leading 20 American companies on an energy business development trade mission to West Africa May 18-23, underscoring the importance of the African market. The mission will help companies make the connections to launch or increase their business in Africa’s growing energy sector.

The forums, organized by ITA’s U.S. Commercial Service in collaboration with its local partners, aims to accommodate the largest possible audience of U.S. companies interested in expanding export sales. More than 270 business representatives from 28 states are registered for the inaugural forum in San Antonio. Additional forums are scheduled throughout the year in Los Angeles, Detroit, New York, Charlotte, N.C., Atlanta, and Minneapolis.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) is the premier resource for American companies competing in the global marketplace. ITA has 2,100 employees assisting U.S. exporters in more than 100 U.S. cities and 72 countries worldwide. For more information on ITA visit www.trade.gov.

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